5 replies to this topic

[guitaural]

Anyone else here that was really excited about building a cabinet, then got sucked in by the endless problems and issues and configs?  I'm almost to the point where I wish I'd never started it to be honest.  Initially couldn't get the CSD hardware to work, but AI finally helped me get that and a couple of other issues configured after a couple of 6-hour days. Then had PinUp Popper issues with wheel art, then with backglass, then games not starting correctly from Popper, while they would from the editor.  Now, they're not running from the editor half the time.  Beginning to think this is a hobby for someone who literally has nothing else to do in life but constantly fiddle with it any time you feel like playing a game.   Built a gorgeous cabinet / graphics, top-notch equipment, but honestly beginning to wish I'd never heard of the hobby.  Is it always like this or does it ever get better?

 

Thanks

[Tesla]

1. Anyone else here that was really excited about building a cabinet, then got sucked in by the endless problems and issues and configs? 

 

2. I'm almost to the point where I wish I'd never started it to be honest. 

 

3. Initially couldn't get the CSD hardware to work, but AI finally helped me get that and a couple of other issues configured after a couple of 6-hour days.

 

4. Then had PinUp Popper issues with wheel art, then with backglass, then games not starting correctly from Popper, while they would from the editor. 

 

5. Now, they're not running from the editor half the time.  Beginning to think this is a hobby for someone who literally has nothing else to do in life but constantly fiddle with it any time you feel like playing a game.   

 

6. Built a gorgeous cabinet / graphics, top-notch equipment, but honestly beginning to wish I'd never heard of the hobby.

 

7. Is it always like this or does it ever get better?

 

Thanks

 

1. Well yeah, but being a (retired) software developer by trade (and an electronics technician before that)... I've never thought any computer, networking, or tech-hardware stuff is particularly easy. It is good to just "play it" and enjoy it sometimes.

 

2. I think my (about $2000 all-in now-days) 3-screen cabinet is still about 100-times better than rotating my desktop's main screen to portrait and playing with my keyboard.

 

3. I went even cheaper and more-DIY ... soldered headers into a little Pinscaped KL-25z... I knew I had to have analog nudge with my first buttons.

 

4. I don't do Nailbuster. I found the PinballY Front-End and I love it. 

 

5. That is weird. VPX tables running directly from VPX-Editor v10.8.0 is sorta the fall-back position. Try to just get your Top-5 favorite tables running properly like that. If those don't run properly, you might have a core-piece misconfigured.

 

7. Yeah, now a couple of years later ... I know how it all works. If I run across anything weird, I just ask the guys here. I never use AI for anything really.

 

6. What are the specs? If better than mine and you just want it gone, let me know.

Edited by Tesla, 07 July 2026 - 02:41 AM.

[guitaural]

Lol - thanks Tesla. I'm just whining and venting...lol.   It just seems like I get things working correctly, then something arbitrarily changes on it's own and breaks something again. And we actually have very similar backgrounds - maybe I'm just getting old and don't have the patience for hours upon hours of config/re-config anymore...

 

The specs are well able to run 4k in real time, so not the PC hardware - I wonder if the 'fancy' button hardware might be just that - too fancy and too much when you factor in interacting with Popper, Windows, etc. Sometimes I wonder if Pinup Popper might be inherently problematic with Windows, etc...I've even wondered about stripping all that 'fancy' button hardware out and wiring it up in a simpler, more direct fashion. Maybe a completely different interface/front end is the way to go?  Not sure about any of it anymore.

 

I'll keep at it, but had no idea it would require this amount of time....

 

Thanks for checking in!

[Tesla]

It's like a big puzzle. Actually, more like multiple puzzles each dependent on each other.

 

I document everything (written notes of any setup and/or config) and screenshots.

 

I don't WANT to have to remember all this stuff (so I write it down). I have a spreadsheet of my 40 tables (and many columns of specs for each). I keep all downloads in case all this online goes away tomorrow (all in my OneDrive). I occasionally run full-system Macrium Backups. I have a lot of time and money invested in all this, so I'm fairly serious about it. It's treated like a "main production computer" ... just like my development/daily-driver Windows-11 desktop, the gamer-wife's desktop, or our laptops, iPhones, iPads, etc.

 

When I switched VPX computers a year-or-so ago, I used my own notes to rebuild the whole thing and it went fast. I updated them of course. The next Migration will go even better.

 

If you just want to play the Tables (same as or similar to in the arcades) seems like PinballY does that for me. You can install it and try it. If you don't like it, just uninstall it or just don't run it. If you want to watch extra videos and have a slightly prettier "Selector Wheel" for your tables, I guess stick with the NailBuster thing.

 

I thought CSD PinOne was just a turn-key Pinscape variant. So, they wrote their own programs and don't use MJR's Pinscape/DOF Config-Tool? I've found all his stuff (including PinballY and PinVol) to be rock-solid. That's me in a nut-shell ... I always try to do things 100% properly (not usually easy/fast way). I always opt for dependable/reliable over flashy/fast/cutting-edge. I have some other expensive hobbies/interests so I tend to be a bit frugal with the virtual pinball hobby.

 

If you ever want to get "down in the weeds" on a sub-system, just let me know. There are others that can help you with stuff I don't use. There are elders here that had to help me alot in the beginning a couple of years ago (so I try to "pay that forward" when I can). Like @Wiesshund, @MJR, @DigitalArts, @Tiki, @XenonPH and many others.

Edited by Tesla, 04 August 2026 - 04:21 PM.

[rickh]

If your first build is a top tier system with all the bells and whistles, don't expect it to work without issues.  Try a simple system first, get it working solid and understand how it works.  Start adding all the details later and debugging each as you proceed.  

[guitaural]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. For anyone in a similar state or considering building a cabinet - just count on it that putting everything together nicely is only step one. It's a definite 'gradual' project and if you're looking at it as a quick toy, you're setting yourself up for frustration...I actually enlisted real-time AI assistance on a number of the issues to get me where things are working pretty well now, so would highly recommend that to step you through some of the config issues and getting the disparate pieces to work together.  It took a few 2-4 hour sessions or so, but just take it in chunks as you can; it's not a 'load and play' proposition.  About the only remaining issues I'm having is some games I got from a friend that load perfectly and look great in Popper, but won't start or throw a ball out.  Probably not a huge deal to iron out.

 

Thanks all!